This week in Israel:
It is difficult adequately to describe how pertinent the content of this week's Torah Portion is to the very sense of identity of the Hebrew people. It will be read this weekend in synagogues around the world-and in two months (March 29th) the story will again be told, this time in homes around Passover tables throughout the world. In it is described the deliverance of Israel from the "House of Bondage" in Egypt-their "baptism" in the crossing of the Red Sea, their launching as "a people" onto the road towards their Land of destiny. In addition there is a magnificent Song of Victory (and another in the Haftarah). God Himself would continually affirm the significance to Israel of what took place here, through her historians, minstrels and prophets hearkening her back again and again to the events recorded in these chapters as proof and surety of His love and faithfulness to her as a people set aside to Himself.
Because of this great significance, we will be drawing all of our prayer points this week from these readings.
This week's Torah Portion:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion from the five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah-final reading) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the Haftarah portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. While it is not within the scope of this Prayer Update to supply a "commentary" on these readings, we will here and there draw attention to certain points which may prove helpful in informing our intercession. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.
The readings for January 24-30 are called B'Shalach ("And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had sent the people away."), and include:
TORAH: Exodus 13:17-17:16
HAFTARAH: Judges 4:4-5:31
*Exodus 13:18b. "And the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt"(NASB). There was, as of yet, no military experience or discipline in this people (see verse 17), and a furious battle with the Amalekites (Ex. 17:8-16) awaited them just a little way down the road. Yet, somehow, they left Egypt armed and in orderly array. In I Samuel 17:45, David goes out to meet Goliath "in the name of the LORD of Hosts, God of the Battle-Arraying of Israel (YHVH Tzeva'ot Elohei-Ma'arkhot-Yisrael)". It is YHVH of Armies who ultimately brings Israel into array both physically and spiritually to face her enemies. PLEASE PRAY: For the armies of Israel to come into array under the LORD of Hosts. Pray for the Messianic Believers in the Israeli Defense Force (we know many personally); they have organized, and many get together regularly on their liberties for praise, worship and prayer. This last year a very favorable article (including several testimonies) about the Messianic presence in Israel's military appeared in an Israeli newspaper. Many have excelled, some gaining rank and favour, and now themselves in positions of command. We know of cases in which some of these commanders have been actually encouraged by their superiors to share their faith with the others in their company. We have received a report from a reliable source at least 120 recently-enlisted soldiers who are believers; and some 80-90 more are lined up for enlistment later this year! But the battle against them by the Enemy is fierce. Please pray courage, integrity, cleanness, and close fellowship for these young men and women both with their LORD and each other-and that they be a light of Truth and Life to their comrades.
"He makes his winds angels, His messengers a flame of fire"
Fiery Cloud over Mount Zion
*Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19-20. "And YHVH went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people." "And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night." PLEASE PRAY: for Israel to be aware that God's presence is with her to lead and give light. For believers to apprehend His Presence.for an awareness of the presence of God's angels in the heavenlies round about us to lead, encourage and protect!
*Exodus 14:8b. "And the children of Israel went out with boldness." "Boldness" is literally "with a high hand."Prophetically, the Hebrew letter for this "ayin" year symbolizes a hand reaching high to GOD-and His sword coming down on its behalf to grant Victory!
*Exodus 14:13-14. "SET YOURSELF and SEE." "And Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid! Stand still (NKJV)/Set Yourself (NASB)/Take Your Station (Robert Alter), and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall not continue to see forever and ever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
Remember, we are in a year of "ayin"-the eye-seeing. In these verses, in order to conquer fear and be equipped against it for the future there were three seeings-Israel was admonished to 1. SEE the LORD's SALVATION (Hebrew: Re'u Yeshuat-YHVH); 2. SEE her enemies, and 3. To realize by faith that she would "NOT CONTINUE TO SEE" them forever and ever (although they would certainly like for her to think that she would).
We would observe regarding the first part of Moses' admonition "Stand Still", that this is far from an indolent 'standing to the side'-rather, it is exactly the same word used by the Watchman standing his post in Habakkuk 2:1, "I will.set myself (NKJV)/station myself (NASB) on the rampart, and watch to see." As we are watchful at our stations, the LORD will be working his salvation on the battlefield (At the end of these readings Moses' station is on the hill with his hands raised as Joshua (meaning "The LORD's Salvation") is in physical combat on the plain below).
Significantly, after the victory-there comes an important place for "seeing" in the past"-- ".and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses" (Exodus 14:30b-31).
Shirat haYam-The Song of the Sea
Exodus 15:1-18 contains one of the most exalted, beautiful and truth-filled victory songs in any language.
*15:2. "My strength and song is YAH; and He is become to me Salvation (Yeshuah); He is my God, and I will adorn Him with praises." PLEASE PRAY: That present-day Israel will recognize that the LORD is indeed become her Salvation (The name Yeshua (Jesus) is a contraction combining the name of the LORD YHVH with the root of the word for Salvation Yeshuah).
*15:3. "YHVH (the LORD) is a man of war; YHVH is His name." This verse literally calls the LORD a "man". We do not believe this to be merely metaphorical-How could the Most High call Himself a man (Ish)-unless He would actually become one? PLEASE PRAY: That the Holy Spirit will shine divine illumination onto his written Word-that minds will be opened to comprehend what is written about Yeshua (Jesus) in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44-45).
*15:11. "Who is like You, YHVH, among the gods? Who is like You, sublime in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" PLEASE PRAY: that these wonderful attributes of the LORD will be released in new understanding in the congregation throughout the world-1. Sublime Holiness; 2. Praises in spirit and truth which nurture godly fear in His servants, terror in His enemies. 3. A release of signs and wonders in the name of His "holy servant Yeshua" (Acts 4:30).
*15:17. "You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O YHVH, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, YHVH, which Your hands have established. YHVH shall reign forever and ever." This is a prophecy regarding what, hundreds of years later, came to be called the "Temple Mount" in Jerusalem. Since 1967, Israel has claimed sovereignty over this mountain. Yet non-Muslims are only allowed to ascend for a few specified hours on certain days of the week. It has been said that the "Last Battle" will be fought over "who will be worshipped on this mountain." Over the interior doors of the Dome of the Rock is a passage from the Muslim holy book proclaiming that that religion's deity "has no son". The Second Psalm of the Hebrew Bible says that the LORD not only has a Son, that Son will reign as King on that Mountain. In Ezekiel 20:40 the Lord GOD (Adonai YHVH) declares that "On My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them." At that time, it will truly be said that Israel has been "brought in and planted in the mountain". But at present, she is only a wary custodian of a highly disputed area inhabited by structures of desolation. PLEASE PRAY: that God's Kingdom come and His will be done on the "mountain of His inheritance" in Jerusalem. We know teams of believers who ascend the mountain weekly to walk round it, praying this. Also, please pray for divine wisdom and guidance over our nation's leaders in how best to administer Israel's present governance of this holy site.
*Exodus 15:26b. "For I am YHVH (The LORD) who heals you." PLEASE PRAY: For release, revelation and progression concerning the healing gifts in the Body of Messiah in Israel.
*Exodus 16:8b. "Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD." A similar warning is echoed in the New Covenant in Acts 5:4, "You have not lied to men but to God." PLEASE PRAY: That the fear of the Lord would be on the Body of Messiah in Israel regarding their honour and conduct towards God's appointed leaders.
*Exodus 16:29. "See! For the LORD has given you the Sabbath." Elohim blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy (Gen. 2:3a). Yeshua taught that "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath"(Mark 2:27-28). PLEASE PRAY: For Israel to be freed from the legalistic structures of man, and enter into the true Rest given by God. Pray especially for leaders in the Body of Messiah to not ignore the necessity of availing themselves of the rests God has ordained for His children.
*Exodus 17:15-16. "And Moses built an altar and called its name, THE LORD IS MY BANNER; for he said, 'Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
The Hebrew for "banner" is "nes" ("my banner"-"nissi"). Nes is also the word for "miracle". The Amalekites were a real people-but throughout the Scriptures they symbolize the spirit of anti-Semitism. They were Israel's first enemies after leaving Egypt. They preyed on her, picking off the weak straggling in the rear (Deut. 25:17-19). God grants "no quarter" to those who threaten His Covenant purposes; their remembrance was to be "blotted out from under heaven." When King Saul failed to do this, it was an Amalekite who in the end claimed to have killed him. Centuries later, it would be Haman, a descendant of Agag (an Amalekite whom Saul also spared) who, as recorded in the Book of Esther, sought to ignite the first Holocaust. With the hatred Satan has for Israel and her redemptive call, it is indeed a Divine Miracle flying over her which has sustained her and brought her, still an entity and with her ancient language restored, back to her native Land. Only this afternoon a report from the Jewish Agency was released in the Jerusalem Post, stating that "Anti-Semitism has reached a global peak since the end of Israel's Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip last winter, and levels of Jew-hatred have not been so high since the Second World War" ("Anti-Semitism highest since WWII": The Jerusalem Post: Online Edition; Jan. 24, 2010). This coming Wednesday (27 January) is "International Holocaust Remembrance Day." A number of Israel's leaders are traveling to Europe to attend ceremonies there. President Shimon Peres will deliver an unprecedented address in the Hebrew language at the Bundestag in Germany.
PLEASE PRAY: For revelation in Israel that it is only the Banner of YHVH (The LORD) flying over her which will protect her from annihilation.that the LORD is fighting for her.that His Banner over her is LOVE.
*Judges 4:8. "And Barak said unto her [Deborah]: 'If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.'" We would suggest that Barak's error here was not merely fear or cowardice (He is listed in Hebrews 7 among the heroes of faith). In fact Moses had said something very similar to the LORD in Exodus 33:15, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here". But there, Moses was dismayed because He longed for the LORD's presence (face), and God had threatened to send an angel instead. In this Judges passage, Deborah, who held the Office of Prophetic Judge over Israel had released God's Word of command over the warrior-yet Barak seems not to have realized that in God's Word of command would be God's presence and authority for the battle. He seems to have identified the divine power and authority with the vessel releasing the Word, rather than the Word itself, and thus felt it safer to have the prophetess as well as the Word (It is significant that when Deborah later released a further command-he corrected his error and without hesitation went like lightning down the mountain (4:14).
PLEASE PRAY: For a maturing in Israel of the Body of Messiah to the "prophetic." For re-establishment by the Holy Spirit of the Office of Prophet. For discernment and respect among believers for God's Word and how it relates to His government. For realization that on the Battlefield, instantaneous obedience to God-ordained authority structures is critical.
[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (31 Jan-6 Feb, "Yitro") will be: Exodus 18:1-20:26; Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:6-7 (Text citations according to common English Translations)]
